Agenda and minutes

The Director of Governance and Law reported apologies from Ms Cribbon, Mrs Dean, Mr Oakford, Mrs Rowbotham, Mr Shonk and Mrs Whittle.

None.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 February 2016 be approved as a correct record subject to:

(a)  The addition of reference under the Chairman’s announcements of the agreement of the County Council not to show the PowerPoint presentation on “The Year so Far”, and

(b)  The addition at the end of paragraph (5) of the following:-

“(o)    To note the financial outlook for 2017-18 and 2018-19 with further anticipated funding reductions and spending demands necessitating additional savings the vast majority of which are yet to be identified”

(1)       The Chairman welcomed Major Drysdale, 2nd in command of 36 Regiment Royal Engineers, and invited him to address the County Council.

(2)       Major Drysdale outlined the work of the Regiment which included radar repairs in the Falklands, building a training area in Kenya, and UN peacekeeping work in Cyprus. This was in  addition to ongoing work in Nepal following the earthquake in 2015. 

(3)       The Chairman thanked Major Drysdale for attending the meeting.

(a)          Mr Chris Capon, MBE

(1)          The Chairman stated that it was with regret that he had to inform Members of the sad death of Mr Chris Capon, MBE, on 18 February 2016.  Mr Capon had served on Kent County Council as the Conservative Member for Hythe from 1977 to 2013.   During his time with KCC Mr Capon served on a number of Committees including Children, Families & Education – Resources & Operations (Chairman); Policy Overview Co-ordinating Committee, Regulation Committee, School Organisation Advisory Board. He had also served as Chairman of the Hythe Neighbourhood Forum and the Shepway Local Board.  Mr Capon had been Chairman of the County Council in 2002-03 and awarded Honorary Alderman of the Council in 2013.

(2)       Mr Capon’s funeral had taken place on Friday 11 March 2016

(3)       Mr Carter, Dr Eddy, Mr Vye and Mr Whybrow paidtribute to Mr Capon

(b)      Mrs Caroline Mullins

(4)          The Chairman stated that it was with regret that he had to inform Members of the sad death of Mrs Caroline Mullins, on 2 March 2016. Mrs Mullins had served on Kent County Council as the Conservative Member for Ashford North from 1993 - 1997.   During her time with KCC Mrs Mullins had served on the Education Committee, the Special Educational Needs Sub-Committee and the Social Services Committee.

(5)          A Celebration of Life Service had been held for Mrs Mullins on Wednesday, 16 March 2016.

(6)       Mr Angell paid tribute to Mrs Mullins.

(c)       Mr Kevin O’Daly

(7)           The Chairman stated that it was with regret that he had to inform Members of the sad death of Mr Kevin O’Daly on 10 March 2016.  Mr O’Daly was the former Liberal Democrat Member for Swale West from 1993 to 1997. During his time with KCC Mr O’Daly had served on the Environment Committee, the Social Services Committee, the Planning Sub-Committee and the Safety Panel. Mr O’Daly had also served on the Fire and Public Protection Committee and the Children and Adult Social Services Sub-Committee.

(8)          A private Service of Remembrance for Mr O’Daly would take place in Boston, Lincolnshire on Tuesday 29 March 2016.

(9)       Mr Truelove, Mr Vye  and Mr Baldock paid tribute to Mr O’Daly

(10)    At the end of the tributes all Members stood in silence in memory of Mr Capon, Mrs Mullins and Mr O’Daly.

(11)    After the one minute silence the Chairman moved, the Vice-Chairman seconded and it was resolved that:

(12)    This Council records the sense of loss it feels on the sad passing of Mr Capon, Mrs Mullins and Mr O’Daly and extends to their families and friends our heartfelt sympathy to them in their sad bereavements.

(e)     The Year so Far

(13)     The Chairman introduced a PowerPoint slide show which illustrated some of the events which he and the Vice-Chairman had attended since the December meeting of the County Council.

In accordance with Procedure Rule 1.17(4), 10 questions were asked and replies given.  A record of all questions put and answers given at the meeting are available online with the papers for this meeting.  Questions 10 to 13 were not put in the time available but written answers were provided.

(1)          The Leader updated the Council on events since the December meeting.

(2)          Mr Carter referred to developments around the devolution agenda and in particular focused on health and social care integration, education and governance arrangements.

(3)          Mr Carter stated that following the first of the city devolution deals being signed off, it was important that the counties did not get left behind. He was hopeful that, with partners, an exciting devolution bid could be put together.  This would include health and social care integration, education, the skills agenda and infrastructure delivery to accelerate economic growth and housing growth in the county.

(4)          In relation to health and social care integration, Mr Carter stated that KCC had been tasked, in the NHS Five Year Forward View, to set out the terms of sustainable transformation plans for health and social care integration. If Kent delivered ambitious, well-constructed sustainable transformation plans which brought together the health budget of the county of Kent with Medway and supported improvement in the delivery of services, it was possible that Kent would get additional funding for the delivery of those plans. Through the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board, working with health partners, there was a real willingness, to deliver those plans by June 2016.  The aim of the plans was the transformation in the delivery of primary and community care integration with social care to reduce the need to hospitalise residents.  This would build on the innovation within the delivery programme for the Canterbury CCG. He referred to new Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the many additional powers being devolved to it in relation to health and social care integration.

(5)          Mr Carter referred to the recently published government white paper, Education Excellence for Everyone.  He stated that Kent had a record of supporting school improvement in a mixed economy of schools.  Kent had helped schools to expand, transformed school buildings, ensured sufficiency of school places, arranged school transport, including introducing the Kent Freedom Pass, and ran complex admissions arrangements for 220,000 pupils.

(6)          Mr Carter expressed disappointment that under Education Excellence for Everyone the County Council’s role in school improvement would be removed in the next few years. Although the County Council would retain duties regarding school admissions and the planning of place provision, as all schools were forced to become academies, the delivery of the expansion of schools and the maintenance programme would be delivered by others.  Mr Carter stated that Kent had a proud record of delivering good quality schools and school expansions at very competitive costs compared to the rest of the country, both nationally and in the South East.  Central Government seemed to dismiss the significant importance of the added value that good local authorities made in the world of education.  Mr Carter expressed the view that this was centralisation rather than devolution. 

(7)          Mr Carter emphasised that the County Council had exercised its statutory educational duties intelligently and sensibly and that this would be missed by schools across  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

(1)          Mr Carter moved and Mr Simmonds seconded the following motion:

“Members are asked to note this report and the presentations on the day and discuss how the Council can best influence the outcomes of what will be a hugely significant change to local government funding.”

(2)          Mr Wood introduced a PowerPoint presentation by Mr Shipton on business rate retention and this was followed by an opportunity for Members to ask questions of officers.  It was emphasised that there would be a Member briefing on this important subject in May 2016 .

(3)          Mr Abbott gave a PowerPoint presentation on the school funding reform and answered questions from Members.

(4)          The motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(5)          RESOLVED that the report, the presentation and the discussion on how the Council can best influence the outcomes of what will be a hugely significant change to local government funding be noted.

(1)           The Chairman welcomed Mr and Mrs Clarke to the meeting and invited Mr Clarke to come forward and receive the Kent Invicta Award for 2016.  The Kent Invicta Award recognised residents of Kent who had achieved excellence in their chosen field or who have provided an exceptional service to the county. The chairman outlined the many contributions made to Kent by Mr Clarke.

(2)          The Chairman stated that he was delighted that the Group Leaders had agreed unanimously that the Award should be presented to Mr Clarke and it gave him great pleasure, on behalf of all KCC Members, to present him with the award and a cheque in the sum of £5,000 for his chosen charity, the Canterbury Oast Trust. 

(3)          Mr Daley and the Chairman spoke to congratulate Mr Clarke .In accepting this award, Mr Clarke responded and expressed his thanks to Members for this award.

The Chairman stated that it was his pleasure to present cheques to his charities. He invited Mr Obee, on behalf of Demelza House to receive a cheque for £1,678.18 and Ms Murch to receive a cheque for £1,678.19 on behalf of Riding for the Disabled. 

The meeting was adjourned to enable the Special meeting to confer the award of Honorary Alderman to be held and was reconvened after the Special meeting.

(1)          Mr Simmonds  moved and Miss Carey seconded the motion that

“Members are asked to consider and comment on the report.”

(2)          In proposing the motion Mr Simmonds updated the report and informed the Council that £52m had been received from the Icelandic banks which was an additional £2m to the original £50m investment.

(3)          The motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(4)          RESOLVED that the comments on the report be noted

(1)          Mr Cooke moved and Mr Carter seconded  the following motion:

“County Council approves the attached Pay Policy Statement.”

(2)          The motion was agreed without a formal vote.

(3)          RESOLVED that the Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17 be approved.

The referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union

Proposed by Miss Carey    Seconded by Mr Brazier

“This Council congratulates the Government for honouring its manifesto commitment to hold a referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union.

We respect that elected Members of the Council may have divergent views but we all have a common interest in ensuring a good turnout at the referendum and, therefore urge all Kent residents to make their votes count in the Referendum on 23 June and especially to encourage those who are not currently registered to vote to do so before the registration deadline of 7 June.”

The referendum on Britain’s membership of the European Union

(1)          Miss Carey moved and Mr Brazier seconded the following motion:

“This Council congratulates the Government for honouring its manifesto commitment to hold a referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union.

We respect that elected Members of the Council may have divergent views but we all have a common interest in ensuring a good turnout at the referendum and, therefore urge all Kent residents to make their votes count in the Referendum on 23 June and especially to encourage those who are not currently registered to vote to do so before the registration deadline of 7 June.”

(2)          Mr Latchford moved and Mr Birkby seconded the following amendment;

“In paragraph 1 delete all words after “This Council” and substitute:

This Council “is pleased that the Government is committed to holding a referendum on our nation’s membership of the European union on the 23^rd June 2016. This will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for all eligible residents to make a decision that has far reaching consequences for the United Kingdom and its sovereignty, and we urge and encourage all Kent residents to make their vote count”.

Delete paragraph 2”

(3)          Following debate the Chairman put the amendment as set out in paragraph (2) above to the vote and the voting was as follows:

For (15)

Mr M Baldock, Mr H Birkby, Mr L Burgess, Mr A Crowther, Mr J Elenor, Mrs M Elenor, Mr P Harman, Mr M Heale, Mr C Hoare, Mr R Latchford, Mr B MacDowall, Mr F McKenna, Mr B Neaves, Mr A Terry,  Mrs Z Wiltshire 

Against (53)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell,  Mr M Balfour, Mr R Bird,  Mr D Brazier, Mrs P Brivio, Mr C Caller, Miss S Carey, Mr P Carter, Mr N Chard, Mr I Chittenden, Mr G Cooke, Mr G Cowan, Mrs M Crabtree, Mrs V Dagger, Mr D Daley, Mr M Dance, Mr J Davies, Dr M Eddy, Mr T Gates, Mr G Gibbens, Mr R Gough, Ms A Harrison, Mr M Hill, Mrs S Hohler, Mr S Holden, Mr P Homewood, Mr E Hotson, Ms S Howes, Mr A King, Mr J Kite, Mr G Koowaree, Mr R Long, Mr G Lymer, Mr T Maddison, Mr S Manion, Mr A Marsh, Mr M Northey, Mr J Ozog, Mr R Parry, Mr C Pearman, Mr L Ridings, Mr J Scholes, Mr C Simkins, Mr J Simmonds, Mr C Smith, Mr D Smyth, Mrs P Stockell, Mr R Truelove, Mr M Vye, Mrs C Waters,  Mr J Wedgbury, Mr M Whybrow.

Abstain (1)

Mr R Brookbank,

Amendment lost

(4)       The Chairman then put the motion as set out in paragraph (1) to the vote and the voting was as follows:

For (47)

Mrs A Allen, Mr M Angell, Mr M Balfour, Mr D Brazier, Mr R Brookbank, Mr L Burgess,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.